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Hack & slash video games
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{{Stub}} {{ElementInfobox | type = Terminology }} '''Hack & slash video games''' are associate with [[beat 'em up video games]] with intense weapon-based combat and a deeper focus on story, and a supposedly natural evolution of the genre as it evolved with the advent of [[Three-dimensional|3D]] gaming. The 3D hack & slash games also assimilate a variety of Action-Adventure mechanics, with puzzle solving and a story driven plot. The genre was started by games like ''[[Golden Axe]]''. ==History== ''[[Golden Axe]]'' ([[1989 in video gaming|1989]]) was acclaimed for its visceral hack & slash [[action]] and [[cooperative]] mode, and was influential through its selection of multiple protagonists with distinct fighting styles.<ref name="goldenaxe">Kasavin, Greg, [http://uk.gamespot.com/wii/action/goldenaxegen/review.html Golden Axe Review], ''GameSpot'', Dec 1, 2006, Accessed Mar 19, 2009</ref> It was considered one of the strongest beat 'em up titles for its fantasy elements, distinguishing it from the urban settings seen in other beat 'em ups at the time.<ref name="gamespyhof">Cassidy, William, [http://www.gamespy.com/articles/495/495400p1.html Hall of Fame: Golden Axe], ''GameSpy'', June 8, 2003. Retrieved March 24, 2009.</ref> Other 2D examples include ''[[Knights of the Round]]'', ''[[The King of Dragons]]'', ''[[Dungeons & Dragons Collection]]'', ''[[Guardian Heroes]]'' and [[Pirates of the Dark Water|''Pirates of the Dark Water'']]. Different games applyed and experimented with three-dimensional [[Third-person action video games|third-person]] combat including ''[http://www.giantbomb.com/getsu-fuuma-den/3030-12131/ Getsu Fuuma Den]'' in [[1987 in video gaming|1987]], ''[[Crossed Swords]]'' in [[1990 in video gaming|1990]], ''[[Bushido Blade]]'' in [[1997 in video gaming|1997]], and ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time]]'' in [[1998 in video gaming|1998]], but ''[[Rising Zan: The Samurai Gunman]]'' in [[1999 in video gaming|1999]] is the closest to the first 3D example of a melee sword oriented combat focused game. The ''[[Dynasty Warriors]]'' series, beginning with ''[[Dynasty Warriors 2]]'' in [[2000 in video gaming|2000]], offered beat 'em up action on large 3D battlefields, displaying dozens of characters on the screen at a time.<ref name="dynasty2">Sato, Ike, [http://uk.gamespot.com/ps2/action/dynastywarriors2/review.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=gssummary&tag=summary;read-review Dynasty Warriors 2 Review], ''GameSpot'', Aug 17, 2000, Accessed Mar 19, 2009</ref><ref>Villoria, Gerald, [http://uk.gamespot.com/ps2/action/dynastywarriors3/review.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=gssummary&tag=summary;read-review Dynasty Warriors 3 Review], ''GameSpot'', Dec 18, 2001, Accessed Mar 19, 2009</ref> The series to date spans 14 games (including expansions) which players in the West view as overly similar, although the games' creators claim their large audience in Japan appreciates the subtle differences between the titles.<ref name="dynasty1up">Fitch, Andy, [http://www.1up.com/do/reviewPage?cId=3166358 Dynasty Warriors 6 (Xbox 360)], ''1UP'', Mar 7, 2008, Accessed Mar 19, 2009</ref><ref>Nutt, Christian, [http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=21080 Interview: How Koei Aims For Western Audiences], ''GamaSutra'', Dec 8, 2008, Mar 19, 2009</ref> While critics saw ''Dynasty Warriors 2'' as innovative and technically impressive,<ref name="dynasty1up" /><ref name="dynasty2" /> they held a mixed opinion of later titles. These later games received praise for simple, enjoyable gameplay but were simultaneously derided as overly simplistic and repetitive.<ref name="dynasty1up" /><ref>Ramsey, Randolph, [http://uk.gamespot.com/ps3/action/shinsangokumusou5/review.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=gssummary&tag=summary;read-review Dynasty Warriors 6 Review], ''GameSpot'', Mar 28, 2008, Accessed Mar 18, 2009</ref> On the 2000s, the beat 'em up genre saw a revival in the form of popular 3D hack & slash games in the style of ''[[Devil May Cry]]'' (2001 onwards), including ''[[Ninja Gaiden]]'' (2004 onwards), ''[[God of War (series)|God of War]]'' (2005 onwards), ''[[Heavenly Sword]]'' (2006), ''[[Afro Samurai]]'' (2009),<ref>{{Cite web|title=Afro Samurai Review|publisher=PSX Extreme|date=2009-01-31|author=Arnold Katayev|url=http://www.psxextreme.com/ps3-reviews/216.html|accessdate=2011-02-26}}</ref> and ''[[Bayonetta]]'' (2009).<ref>{{Cite web|date=January 4, 2010|title=Bad hair day: Bayonetta hands-on|author=Jeff Bakalar, Scott Stein and Dan Ackerman|url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10424434-1.html|accessdate=2011-02-26}}</ref> [[Action role-playing game]]s such as [[Odin Sphere]] (2007), [[Nier: Automata]] (2017), [[Kingdom Hearts III]] (2019), [[Honkai Impact 3rd]] (2016), [[Tales of Xillia 2]] (2012) and ''[[Dragon's Dogma]]'' (2012) employ third-person hack & slash combat systems. ==References== {{Reflist}} {{Genres}} [[Category:Genres]]
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